A year ago in November of 2020, alumni from The Oaks began sharing letters to current students and posting them on this blog site. A week into the letters being posted, the principal Charlie Dowers sent an email to all the current parents and faculty.
I chose to wait a year to share this email because I did not want to take space away from the authors.
However, the letters have stopped, families have made decisions, 2021 is almost over. But if you were wondering if The Oaks ever said anything, here it is. Please note, this was secretly obtained and I was not intended to receive this.
But obviously, this network of authors has my back and knows the power of social media. #underhiseye
---
11/06/2020
God's Providences Come in Many Forms
Greetings Oaks Parents,
The wisdom of our God is infinite. His providences come in a variety of forms. Some are delightful. Some are hard. Yet all of them are for the good of His people. And while we celebrate the goodness of our God, we have a difficult and saddening situation which has reached the point that requires I bring it to your attention.
A number of disgruntled Oaks alumni have started a blog that is intended to be a space where people can share what they need to say about or to The Oaks. The blog is entitled “The Oaks Alumni Letters” and can be found on blogspot. Sadly, the bulk of the grievances enumerated there have not been brought to my open door (Matthew 18:15-20) in order for discussion, forgiveness, and restoration to happen.
I want you to know this blog exists so you are not surprised.
In this time, there are some things I encourage you to do.
1) Pray for God’s love to pour out on our school: families, staff, and alumni. Pray that God’s love would unite us.
2) Be active in expressing your gratitude for God’s love, faithfulness, and His work at The Oaks. 1 John 4:16—And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.
There are also some things I discourage.
1) I would discourage you from reading and responding to the blog. Our goal is to live at peace with one another and always appropriately seek reconciliation in matters of disagreement or discord.
2) I also discourage you from discussing the letters amidst and among the broader community as it will not help foster peace and unity. Again, my office door is open.
As Scripture reminds us, GOD IS GOOD. We trust and follow him. Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.”
God has given us godly teachers and staff for 25 years. They demonstrate faithfulness to the Scriptures and a deep affection for their students as well as their subjects. We are grateful for them and their sacrifices. We love our alumni—all of them—and pray for their souls to rejoice in Christ now and forever more.
Finally, I want to share with you a quote from one of my favorite books: Charity and Its Fruits, by Jonathan Edwards. In God’s timing I came across this earlier this week. “Love to God will dispose us thus to express our gratitude for his long-suffering exercised toward us.”
May you and I follow in the footsteps of our Lord as we act in love with meekness and kindness.
We are blessed beyond measure in Christ!
Charlie Dowers
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.